Friday, November 14, 2008

Friday Qualifying on SPEED and ESPN2

Time for both SPEED and ESPN2 to handle the final qualifying sessions for both the Sprint Cup and Craftsman Truck series.

First up is Dr. Jerry Punch and his NASCAR on ESPN team. Homestead qualifying should have some drama, but lots of other stories are dominating the sport. Once again, ESPN is going to have to mix the reality of what is happening on the track with what is actually happening to the sport.

Andy Petree and Dale Jarrett join Punch from the Infield Pit Studio. Shannon Spake, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Dave Burns will handle the interviews. Qualifying coverage has been a tough struggle this season for the ESPN crew and this final session should be a challenge.

At 5PM it will be Rick Allen and Phil Parsons handling the Truck Series qualifying. Michael Waltrip will eventually make his way to the announce booth as well. Handling the interviews will be Ray Dunlap and Adam Alexander.

Watching SPEED cover the Truck Series this year has been a blast and they have been rewarded with a tight championship race. Watching qualifying will tell the tale of how both Johnny Benson and Ron Hornaday Jr. will set themselves up for the race.

Use this post to offer your comments on both qualifying sessions. There will be a new post up for the Craftsman Truck Series race later tonight. The rules for posting are located on the right side of the main page. Thank you for taking the time to stop by the main page.

24 comments:

1. I am glad that 3rd to 12 place in the points don't have to race this weekend since they will finish the chase in the place they are in. Or at least the graphic that shows everyone from 3rd down is out of the chance and has no points says this.

2. Dr. Punch is so much better than his graphic department. Did you know Hornish was the fastest of the go or go homers in practice, 13th fastest overall (as long as you ignore that Allmendinger was shown on the graphic as being 11th fastest overall, fastest of the go or go homers).

Andrew Glazier said... A difference of 17 points is now a "solid" lead in the Top 35? Yikes.

17 points is a solid lead, but 141 points out of 1st is still a battle. At no point have they mentioned that JJ has to finish 37th or better to clinch today. I guess they wan't to hype the drama as long as possible.

because Yates is so much more successful than Ganassi? I don't think so...I don't think Texaco left because of the team, I think they found better use for their marketing dollars...clearly they have enough $$ to put it wherever they want, they could have gone for any better team and been welcome. Somewhat annoying though, considering they *could* afford it and don't want to...more signs that NASCAR isn't working well for companies?

Well my .02 is about worth every penny.I do have the tv on and it is on ESPN. No volume though. Sirius NASCAR Radio for me. At least with the MRN crew I don't cringe every time they ask a question. I see by the first 2 comments that ESPN is up to snuff as usual.I do see a more casual ESPN crew today. That much I like. Much more personable.

On the Texaco front, they had a driver they wanted to support in Jamie McMurray...that was their plan, also when they left it was after the 2002 season in which Ganassi Racing was competing for a championship until Sterling got hurt. Jamie won a race, can't blame Texaco for that move.

Yates had the writing on the wall, it was the right move at the time. Hindsight is 20/20